Photo: Sign indicates trail closure by logging company in the Chilliwack Valley spotted Owl Wildlife Habitat Area

Local residents and environmental watchdogs are alarmed that road construction began over the weekend in a Wildlife Habitat Area (WHA) that is meant to provide habitat for the critically endangered spotted owl near Chilliwack Lake.
“We are deeply disturbed that the provincial government has allowed logging road construction to proceed in what the public believes is land protected for the safeguarding of the spotted owl – a species which is on the verge of extirpation,” said Gwen Barlee, Policy Director for the Wilderness Committee. “Many big trees have already been felled with this irresponsible road building.”

The logging road is being built to access several cutblocks which have been offered to Tamihi Logging, despite the fact that the area was set aside as a WHA due to federal government obligations to protect it as spotted owl habitat. The part of the Chilliwack Lake WHA – also known as Ford Mountain and Post Creek – impacted are cutblocks 2016, 2017, 2018 and 2019, which include some of the largest, oldest trees in the area. The final approval of the logging permits has yet to be made.

“Allowing this logging road building to happen is quite a shocking dereliction of duty, a short-sighted decision if ever there was one,” said Barlee. “We’re talking about less than a dozen of these wonderful creatures left in the wilds of southern BC, so it’s unconscionable that we would consider trading invaluable spotted owl habitat for a quick buck.”

“You cannot both protect an area and allow logging – this will most certainly not work in an already over-logged landscape like the Chilliwack River Valley,” said Barlee. “Government must step in immediately and ensure that this spotted owl habitat is truly protected – they need to stop this logging from going ahead.”

Contact:

Gwen Barlee, Policy Director, Wilderness Committee, 604.202.0322 (c)